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Lord Akeldas!" he said to the two of the tidbits have you broughtmen "Oh," she said, "I remember you! You helped my sister plan her nuptials You had that room’s cake Stylish, two cakes Especially for --she is so very fond of food"

Biffy knew his duty and hurried forward to bow over Felicity’s proffered hand "Sandalio de Rabiffano, at your service, miss How do you do?"

Alexia, who until that ave Lord Akeldama a startled look The vampire stood and wandered innocently over to her chair "Spectacularly Spanish, wouldn’t you say? Moorish blood soely

Biffy returned Felicity’s hand "I cannot take credit for the cake, miss It’s an odd little Aeously "Oh, well, on’t tell anyone that, noe? Are you still in Lord Akeldama’s employ?"

A brief flash of hurt passed over Biffy’s pleasant face "No, miss I’ve been transferred to your sister’s household"

Miss Loontwill clearly thought this a ement "Oh, have you, indeed?"

Alexia interrupted any continued flirtation "Felicity, go next door and wait for me in the front parlor Order tea if you must When my husband returns, I’ll discuss your request with hiain

"Now, Felicity" Lady Maccon was at herFelicity’s, Felicity went

Lord Akeldaave a little nod after the retreating girl With no verbal exchange required, Boots trotted obediently after Felicity Biffy looked on wistfully Alexia sur for Felicity’s continued coer obey Lord Akeldaht hi hi to tell me or Lord Akeldama?"

"You, my lady I am pleased to report that you have been successfully moved The new house awaits your perusal and, hopefully, approval"

"Excellent! I should--Oh wait Lord Akelda to ask And while I’m in your company, if I may?"

"Yes,those porcupines to you? Or overgrown hedgehogs, or whatever their species inclination, fro, they were also ever so slightly vampiric in propensity Their speed and their old dark blood and their susceptibility to the lapis solaris Is that possible, do you think--vampire porcupines?"

Lord Akeldairl, ill you think of next? Weregoats? Be on your guard, for at full moon they shall creep into your coat closet and eat up all your shoes!"

Biffy hid a smile

Alexia was not in the mood to be mocked

Lord Akelda toffee button, you can be quite the widgeon upon occasion Ani you know, I’ll be petitioning Countess Nadasdy to bite old fatty there so I can have coestured to his cat The chubby creature had delusions of being a vicious hunter but could neverthan a pillow tassel Or, on one recent and memorable occasion, one of Ivy’s hats Lady Maccon shuddered at the recollection Why had she thought she could bring Ivy to tea with a vae of late, but she was still not ready for intimate exposure to Lord Akeldama’s brand of dra intimate exposure to one of Ivy’s hats After that tea, Alexia had been forced to admit that Lord Akeldama and Ivy Tunstell were like plaid and brocade, utterly incompatible even in complementary colors

At which juncture so room, only this time without announceracious er countess of old Georgian inclination "What hasCross Station?"

Biffy looked to Lady Maccon, resplendent in her tentlike gown of eyelet lace and blue satin bows "More akin to a dirigible landing green, I should think, my lord"

Alexia, who found her condition even more ridiculous than anyone else, was moved to s inflated

Lord Akeldama chuckled softly "Ah, Biffy, I have missed you, my dove"

The individual who had entered, unannounced and unbidden, observed this exchange with a frown

Lord Akeldama turned upon him with mild censure in his sharp blue eyes "Lord Maccon, if you are to stay here, and I believe that is settled for thebefore entering a rooruff in his embarrassment "Oh, yes Upon occasion, I find it hard to remember details of etiquette" He swirled his cloak off It landed on the back of a side chair before sliding off and falling to the floor

Lord Akeldama shuddered

"Lord Akeldama Wife Pup" Lord Maccon nodded His tawny eyes concerned, hestill corked up?" he asked her in one ear

"Yes, yes, don’t fuss, Conall" Alexia would have none of it

"Everything else squared away?"

"I was just about to perform the inspection Hoist rinned, braced hirasped it in both of hers and he levered At her preternatural touch, he lost supernatural strength, but he was still powerful enough to handle Alexia--even in her inflated dirigible state

"We will have to be seen going next door, I suppose And ill have to deterht"

"Such skulking and folderol, all for the sake of appearances," gruh quite a hellish time when her husband had booted her from his bed and company Society had ostracized her all because she appeared to have been indiscreet "Appearances are everything!"

"Hear, hear," agreed Lord Akeldaet you from our balcony to Lord Akeldalared at hiplank, thank you very , husband"

Lord Maccon looked a tad surprised at that "Did I indicate I intended any such activity?"

"No, but I kno you get"

Conall was nonplussed by such an unwarranted accusation

Alexia continued "Oh, yes, and I should warn you There’s a surprise waiting for us in our new front parlor"